Roy Morgan Findings: Unemployment | Holidays | Rudd

1. NOVEMBER UNEMPLOYMENT (10.0%, UP 0.3%) RISES TO 1.229
MILLION (UP 66,000). HIGHEST SINCE JANUARY 2012. RECORD
NUMBER OF AUSTRALIANS EITHER UNEMPLOYED OR UNDER-EMPLOYED
(2.222 MILLION, UP 84,000)http://www.roymorgan.com/news/polls/2012/4848

In
November 2012 an estimated 1.229 million Australians (10.0%
of the workforce, up 0.3% in a month) were unemployed, and
the Australian workforce* was 12,251,000, (up 242,000 in a
month, comprising 7,377,000 full-time workers (up 64,000);
3,645,000 part-time workers (up 112,000) and 1,229,000
looking for work (up 66,000) according to Roy Morgan.

A
further 993,000 Australians are under-employed - working
part-time and looking for more work. This is 18,000 more
than a month ago, and represents 8.1% of the workforce*
(unchanged this month).

In total 2.222 million Australians
were unemployed or under-employed in November, 84,000 more
than last month, 18.1% (up 0.3%) of the workforce. This is
up a significant 240,000 over the past 12 months since
November 2011.

Driving this rise over the past 12 months
is the increase in part-time unemployment - 676,000 (up
192,000 since November 2011), while under-employment is up
55,000 to 993,000 and full-time unemployment has barely
changed at 553,000 (down 7,000).

"Today's Roy Morgan November employment estimates
show Australian unemployment rising to 1,229,000 (up 66,000
in a month) - the highest unemployment since January 2012
(1,278,000). In addition, the rise in Australia's
under-employment to 993,000 (up 18,000) means a total of
2,222,000 (up 84,000) Australians (18.1%, up 0.3%) are
either unemployed or under-employed - a new record
high.

"This record high number of Australians either
looking for work or looking for more work makes it
imperative that the RBA cuts Australian interest rates
(currently amongst the highest in the developed world at
3.25%) at its last board meeting for the year
tomorrow.

"The RBA must also consider the prospects of
Australian retailers as they head into their most important
time of the year - the Christmas sales period. Harvey Norman
boss Gerry Harvey has already warned that many retailers are
set to close their doors in the New Year due to the tough
retailing conditions, and an interest rate cut tomorrow is
crucial to 'saving Christmas' for many retailers currently
'on the edge'."

Former
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is still the preferred ALP Leader
(34%, unchanged since September 17-20, 2012) over Prime
Minister Julia Gillard (22%, unchanged). Other candidates
are well behind with Defence Minister Stephen Smith (10%, up
1%), Treasurer and Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan (6%,
down 1%), Bill Shorten (6%, up 2%) and Greg Combet (4%,
unchanged) the only candidates with at least 4%
support.

Amongst ALP voters Julia Gillard is more strongly
preferred with 41%, (down 2%) of ALP voters preferring
Gillard as ALP Leader ahead of Kevin Rudd (33%, down 5%). Of
other contenders, only Wayne Swan (5%, unchanged) has more
than 4% support.

Former Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull
is now even more strongly preferred as Liberal Party Leader
(50%, up 8%) ahead of Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey (18%,
unchanged) and current Opposition Leader Tony Abbott (15%,
down 4%). All three candidates are well ahead of Deputy
Opposition Leader Julie Bishop (5%, down 2%).

Amongst
Liberal Party voters Opposition Leader Tony Abbott (28%,
down 5%) is now trailing Malcolm Turnbull (40%, up 8%) but
is still preferred to Joe Hockey (22%, up 1%). All three are
well ahead of Deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop (5%,
down 2%).

If Prime Minister Julia Gillard were to resign
for any reason, former PM Kevin Rudd is still clearly
preferred as ALP Leader (40%, up 2%) ahead of Stephen Smith
(12%, unchanged) and Wayne Swan (11%, down 1%).

If Mr
Abbott were to resign as Opposition Leader tomorrow, Mr
Turnbull (56%, up 8%) is clearly preferred to Joe Hockey
(22%, down 2%) and both are clearly ahead of current Deputy
Opposition Leader Julie Bishop (8%, down 2%).

Gary Morgan
says:

"Kevin Rudd (34%, unchanged since September 2012)
has maintained his clear lead as preferred leader of the ALP
ahead of current Prime Minister Julia Gillard (22%,
unchanged). However, despite a drop Gillard has again
increased her lead over Rudd amongst ALP voters (41%, down
2%) cf. Rudd (33%, down 5%).

"Former Liberal Party Leader
Malcolm Turnbull (50%, up 8%) is once again clearly
preferred to both Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey (18%,
unchanged) and current Leader Tony Abbott (15%, down 4%) as
preferred Liberal Leader. Even more worryingly for Abbott,
Turnbull (40%, up 8%) has now pulled ahead of Abbott (28%,
down 5%) for the first time since July 2009 (Turnbull (35%)
cf. Abbott (16%)) amongst Liberal Party voters."

The percentage of
Australians intending to go overseas for their next holiday
is at 10% for the October 2012 quarter, up from 8% at the
same time last year, according to the Roy Morgan Research
Holiday Tracking Survey.

In contrast, domestic holiday
intention has declined for the October 2012 quarter, with
55% of Australians intending to stay in Australia for their
next holiday, down from 57% this time last year.

Overall
holiday intention has remained steady for the October 2012
quarter, with 69% of Australians intending to take a holiday
in the next 12 months (13.1 million).

"With the Australian dollar at a
high level, an increasing percentage of Australians are
taking advantage and planning an overseas holiday. This
trend is strongest amongst Australians under 35 years of
age, with 12% intending to go overseas for their next
holiday, up from 9% one year ago. Their favourite overseas
destinations are Bali, United States, England and France. On
the other hand, Australians in the AB quintile* are still
looking to holiday at home, with 67% intending to travel in
Australia for their next holiday compared to 55% of the
general population.

"Melbourne is one of the few domestic
destinations to enjoy a strong growth in holiday intention
amongst younger people, with 10% of those under 35 intending
to go there on their next holiday, up from 8% a year ago.
Young people go to Melbourne to shop, dine at restaurants,
go to night clubs, and generally socialise. They also attend
sporting events, and visit museums, historical sites, and
art galleries.

"It is critical for domestic marketers to
understand the demographics, attitudes and behavioural
profile of their target market, so as to tailor appropriate
messages that persuade them to choose their destination when
planning a holiday."

Roy
Morgan Research has announced the monthly Customer
Satisfaction Award winners. The October results show new
leaders in Private Health Insurers, Business Superannuation
Managers, Retail Superannuation, Clothing Stores,
Supermarkets, Auto Stores and Mobile Phone Service
Providers.

The Customer Satisfaction Awards
are based on data from Roy Morgan's Consumer Single Source
survey (over 50,000 consumers annually), as well as Roy
Morgan's Business Single Source survey (over 20,000 business
decision makers annually). These two large, nationwide
studies provide a thorough and accurate way to identify and
recognise Australia's top businesses in Customer
Satisfaction.

To visit the Roy Morgan Customer
Satisfaction Awards website, click herehttp://www.customersatisfactionawards.com/.
The website monitors the ongoing movements in Customer
Satisfaction for many businesses across different
industries.

A full service research organisation specialising in omnibus and syndicated data, Roy Morgan Research has over 70 years' experience in collecting objective, independent information on consumers. Roy Morgan Research was set up in New Zealand in the 1990s and has been collecting information across a wide range of industries in New Zealand ever since. Roy Morgan currently has over 10 years of trended data on a geographically and demographically representative sample of over 12,000 New Zealanders aged 14+.

CONTACT ROY MORGAN RESEARCH

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